Question about washcloths?

Question

This is just a question and not what I do. I change my washcloths out every other day.

Why do they need to be changed out though? If you think about it, they are being washed with every use I guess some don't rinse out their washcloths each time but I do. I load it up with soap, wash by face and body and then scrub the washcloth as I rinse it out to make sure all the soap is out and then hang it to dry.

So if I do the above, is it really necessary to still change it out? Again, I do change them but just curious.

I am not a germ freak and believe that if you get too sanitary (germ killing/antibacterial soaps etc.) you are weakening your immune system and doing yourself harm.

And remember, people went all year without a bath not that long ago and washing clothes and towels were done very rarely and they survived.

Answer 1

what you do isn't bad, as long as it dries out thoroughly and fairly quickly. the main reason being that staying damp and warm might allow bacteria to grow.

Answer 2

bacteria grows in wet fabric....hence the nasty smell sometimes

Answer 3

bY WASHING THEM IT GETS ALL OF THE BACTERIA AND DEAD SKIN FROM OUR BODIES OFF.THATS WHY YOU SHOULD WASH EVERY TIME.

Answer 4

I've wondered the same thing about towels, too. We're supposedly clean when we dry with them. My best understanding is that exfoliated skin, bacteria and soapy residue lodge in the fabric causing them to be less than sanitary so washing them in soap and hot water actually gets rid of the dead skin and bacteria we deposit on the washcloths and towels.

Answer 5

Your washcloth should be changed EVERY time - towels every other time or every third time.  When you wash, tons of dead skin cells and other dirt are ground into your washcloth - just like the ones in your mattress, pillows, etc.